Rose Parade Viewing tips

If you are thinking of heading out to Pasadena to view the 2010Tournament of Roses Parade- here’s a list of tips to make it a fun and comfortable experience

 1. Layer up- The high for New Year’s Day is supposed to hit a high of 70 degrees- but it is very chilly at night and in the early morning. Dress in layers so that you can easily remove a layer or two when it starts to warm up. If you’re bringing little ones I would also bring scarves, gloves, a blanket and mittens
. 2. Overnight camping is permitted only on the night before the parade. Do not arrive before noon the day before the parade.
 3. If you plan on camping – bring plenty of blankets, sleeping bags and pillows. You are also allowed to bring a small barbecue. You may not bring tents or start any form of bonfire.
 4. If you are camping be prepared for a sleepless night. I’ve camped out a couple of times with my family and didn’t sleep a wink. The crowd also gets a bit rowdy. I really wouldn’t recommend camping out if you have small children.
 5. If you would like to view the parade in style and be as comfortable as possible- splurge on grandstand tickets. For more info click here- Tickets are still available.
6. If you are light sensitive make sure to sit on the west side of the street
 7. The Tournament of Roses Parade follows the same route every year: Starting on Ellis St., it heads north on S. Orange Grove Blvd., then east on Colorado Blvd, north (left turn) on Sierra Madre Blvd., and ending at Paloma Street.- Plan ahead to determine where you would like to seat- also there is no public, curbside parade viewing on Orange Grove Blvd. from Del Rosa to Colorado Blvd. and on Colorado from Orange Grove to Terrace. Grandstand ticket holders only.
8. If you would like to see the parade live in person, but have small children or the idea of camping out seems like a nightmare- this might be for you- Our friends suggested to leave about 30-45 minutes before the parade starts and head over to the end of the parade – on Sierra Madre blvd. You can easily find a spot without having to camp out.
9. Parking can be a nightmare. You can park in residential areas but be prepared for a walk. You can also pay anywhere between 10-25 dollars and park close up to the parade route in any of the private lots. If you are planning on this make sure you bring cash.
 10. The parade starts at 8am sharp and is approximately 2 and a half hours long.
11. Bring plenty of water and snacks. If you have little ones- bring them along in a wagon and store your supplies in the wagon.
12. If you would still like to view the floats close up but can’t make it out to the parade don’t worry- Buy tickets for the best and most interesting part of the Rose Parade: float viewing. You can get closer to the floats and talk to their builders here. Crowds will be smaller if you can arrive immediately when they open on the morning after the parade. Use an area park-and-ride lot, or if you have a carful of people, try for one of the paid lots near Pasadena High School. I will be covering this in a later post.

Kidspace Children’s Museum- Pasadena

We had the opportunity to visit the Kidspace Children’s Museum last week and I can’t wait to head back in the next couple of weeks for another visit. We were only there for two hours and easily could have stayed for another two. My children loved everything about this museum.

The Kidspace Children’s Museum is located in Pasadena and is adjacent to the Rose Bowl. You will park in Rose Bowl Parking Lot I and walk through Brookside Park to find a fun land of
exploration. I love museums that incorporate indoor and outdoor exhibit areas and Kidspace is able to do both.

We had the opportunity to explore the Early Childhood Learning Center, which is geared for children ages four and under. My son Mikey, who is a two and a half, was in tot fantasyland. He loved everything about the exhibit, especially the stuck together area, where the tots can interact with Velcro walls to create designs with large foam blocks. We had to coax him out of the area with a promise(aka “bribe”) of an Popsicle.

My daughter Lauren’s favorite exhibit was the Digging Deeper Gallery. She loves make believe and had a great time serving up patrons in Bugsy’s Diner. The Diner will teach your kiddos about the feeding habits of insects. Another favorite of my kiddos was “The Dig” and “The Shake Zone”. They are both interactive experiences that will not only educate your children but also provide them with hands on fun! I could not get either one to budge from this area. I had to tear them away in order to discover the other exhibits and areas.

After some inside play, we headed to the outdoor exhibits. The kids had a fun and very wet time playing in Kirby’s Kids Corner. It is an area that is designed for the four and under crowd and boy did they have a great time. They were completely drenched by the end of the night but also grinning from ear to ear.The kids also had a great time playing in the Splash Dance Fountain. If you are heading in the summer, make sure to pack a towel and extra clothes! I’m glad I packed some clothes because let me tell you -the kiddos were wet!!

We didn’t have the opportunity to explore the Gardens, Kids Basin (another wet area) and the climbing area. I can’t wait to head back and discover the areas that we missed.

Make sure to take advantage of their Free Family Nights- which are held on the first Tuesday of the month. Admission is free!! Pack a picnic and be prepared for a great time!!

Hours
September through May-.
Tuesday through Friday, 9:30am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm
June, July and August-Open 7 days a week!
Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 5pm
I was able to visit on their Free Family Nights which are held the first Tuesday of the month from 4pm to 8pm.
Admission on any other day is
Children.$10.00
Adults$10.00
Infants (under 12 months)Free

Kidspace Children’s Museum

480 N Arroyo Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91103
For additional information head on over here.

Kidspace Children’s Museum- Free Admission on Family Night

The Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena is a must visit for your family. Kidspace is located in Pasadena and is home to some pretty cool hands on exhibits. There is something for every child in your family- from a 4 year old and under area designed for the tiny ones to a dinosaur dig for the bigger kiddos.
The museum offers a Free Family Night the first Tuesday of the month from 4pm to 8pm. If you have not had the opportunity to visit this gem, make sure to mark your calendar for the next Free Family Night.
Free Family Night
4pm-8pm
Kidspace Children’s Museum
480 N Arroyo Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91103
For additional information about the museum click here.